immunohistochemical study of tumour necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand [TRAIL] in lung cancer patients

Lung cancer is a global problem and its incidence is dramatically increasing and expected to become the leading cause of cancer deaths. Several molecular genetic abnormalities have been described in lung cancer, one of the most recent such markers is tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand [TRAIL]. To throw an outlook on tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand [TRAIL] expression in tissue specimens obtained from lung cancer patients. Fifty Patients were included in this work selected on basis of being presenting with clinical and/or radiological picture suggestive of lung cancer. They were classified histop-athologicallyl into two groups, Group I comprised [37] non smalUimg cancer patients [NSCLC], and Group II comprised [13] small lung cancer patients [SCLC]. All patients were subjected to thorough medical history, clinical examination and radiological examination. Fiberoptic broncho-scopic examination was done with different endoscopic sampling and the obtained specimens were subjected to special staining procedure for TRAIL expression by immunohistochemistry. Bronchial biopsy carried the highest diagnostic yield for lung cancer in both groups [60%] and [24%] in groups I and II, respectively. Histopathologically, the majority of cases [86.48%] of group I were adenocarcinoma, [13.5%] were squamous, while all cases of group II [100%] were SCLC. TRAIL expression was positive in 67.6% of group I and in 23% of group II cases. 62.5% of adenocarcinoma patients were TRAIL positive, as well as 40% of squamous cell carcinoma patients while 23.1% only of SCLC were TRAIL positive. There was no statistical significant difference in the degree of cigarette smoking between TRAIL positive and negative subjects. The sensitivity of TRAIL immunostaining in lung cancer was 67.6%, while its specificity was 76.9% with accuracy of 70% in the studied groups. TRAIL is overexpressed in the majority of NSCLC mainly adenocarcinoma which indicate that it may become a new adjuvant line for treatment of such cases

Evaluation of the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of Harpagophytum procumbens in albino rats: a comparative study with indomethacin and rofecoxib

Harpagophytum procumbens [Harpago.] is a herpaceous plant. It has been used in traditional medicine for treatment of many diseases including headache, rheumatic diseases and inflammations. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of the herpal plant on the experimentally-induced acute inflammation [carrageenan-induced edema test] and chronic inflammation [Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis] in adult male albino rats. In addition, these actions were compared with that of indomethacin and rofecoxib. The results of the present work revealed that Harpago. aqueous extract and indomethacin, completely, prevented the carrageenan-induced paw edema. Also, they significantly increased the paw withdrawal latency [reaction time] that reflects the analgesic effect of the drugs. The intensity of the latter effects reached maximum level when measured after 1-2 hours for both drugs. Meanwhile, rofecoxib produced significant reduction in the paw edema that induced by carrageenan and elicited an analgesic effect that reached maximum level after 3-4 hours from carragednan injection. Concerning the chronic anti-inflammatory effects, Harpago-protected the knee joint from the Freund's adjuvant-induced degenerative changes, however, this protection is much less than that produced by each of indomethacin or rofecoxib. Thus, it could be concluded that Harpagophytum procumbens has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect in the acute and chronic inflammatory conditions which is more prominent in the acute and subacute inflammations; and its duration of action is similar to indomethacin, but shorter than that of rofecoxib

Surgical versus conservative approach of a patient with a single-lactiferous duct discharge using a precise ductal localization technique

This study was done on 23 patients to evaluate the surgical management as being a sure diagnostic method, in all cases, and therapeutic one in most of them. Of these patients, 21 had persistent single duct discharge of the nipple of the breast without a palpable abnormality. Mammography and cytology were done for all patients. It was found that mammography was false negative in 2 out of 4 cases who were found to be malignant after microdochectomy and histopathology. The cytology of the duct discharge showed suspicious and malignant cells in 2 out of these 4 patients [i.e. 2 true positive and 2 false negative cytology]. Thus, the conservative approach using these methods is not safe enough and microdochectomy, using the injection localization technique is a simple and quick method for proper initial management of these cases